Weaving loom frames and reinforcing cross-members therefor



March 29, 1955 J P|CANQL 2,705,022

WEAVING LOOM FRAMES AND REINFORCING CROSS-MEMBERS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. PICANOL March 29, 1955 WEAVING LOOM FRAMES AND REINFORCING CROSS-MEMBERS THEREFOR 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2'7, 1951 United States Patent WEAVING LOOM FRAMES AND REINFORCING CROSS-MEMBERS THEREFOR Jaime Picanol, Zandberg, Zillebeke-lez-Ypres, Belgium Application September 27, 1951, Serial No. 248,609

Claims. (Cl. 139-1) In weaving looms, all the mechanisms are supported by a common support constituted of two side-frames con nected together by cross-members. In the modern weaving looms the requirements are more and more for a maximum productivity and for weavings of the highest possible quality. It is well known that, to be able to weave quality fabrics at high speeds, it is absolutely necessary that the common support presents at the same time the greatest strength and the greatest rigidity possible. The strength of the supports is a condition which is relatively easy to obtain, but it is different where rigidity is concerned. Mechanisms of powerful action exert intermittent stresses on the side frames and the resulting shocks and vibrations make it difficult to set the looms properly and to obtain the correct running of the different loom mechanisms; precision and steadiness are absolutely necessary to produce a quality fabric.

The object of the invention is to design the side-frames and the cross-members of the loom and to arrange the same in a way which provides both a maximum of rigidity and steadiness. According to the essential characteristics of the invention, this maximum steadiness is attained by providing a reinforcing cross-member so disposed as to have its longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the lines of action of the main stresses exerted on the loom frame, and more particularly the stresses of the picking mechanism; the position, the shape and dimensions of said reinforcing cross-member will be determined in order to counteract said stresses.

For a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective and partial view of the two side-frames and the two rear cross-members of the loom;

Figures 2 and 3 show schematically and as summarily as possible a plan view of the common supports of a weaving loom according to known constructions and according to the invention respectively;

Figure 4 is a front view of the reinforcing cross-member according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of said cross-member;

Figure 6 is a section along line VI--VI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the cross-member;

Figure 8 is a perspective view looking from underneath a portion of said cross-member.

If we now consider the arrangement represented schematically in Figure 1, we find that on the exterior of the side frame 7, 8 are secured, amongst other elements, the bearing 1 of the picking shaft 2, and the bearing 3 of the axle 4, on which is mounted the socket 5 receiving the lower end of the picking stick 6 for actuating the shuttle A. If we examine the stresses exerted on said side-frames 7, 8, for instance, those exerted by the elements of the picking mechanism, we find that the lower part of said side-frames are submitted to various stresses which produce couples, the rapid application of which, at a frequency determined by the beatings of the loom, causes or is likely to cause distortions of the frame in conventional looms, which may affect the quality of the weaving. Said couples have a trend to make the frames sway about their lower edge and cause disturbing vibrations in said side frames.

A first characteristic of the invention consists in placing at least one cross-member and preferably a crossmember of duly appropriate profile and dimensions, opposite or substantially opposite the picking sticks and preferably opposite the bearings 3 of the axle 4 and/or opposite the bearings 1 of the picking shaft, which are nearest to said bearings 3.

This new arrangement is compared to the traditional disposition in the Figures 2 and 3. In the conventional frames, at least the lower edges are connected two by two. As schematized in Figure 2, the side-frames 7, 8 are connected to each other by means of the cross-members 9, 10' which do not take in account the nature and points of application of above mentioned stresses. The lower edges of the side-frames (Figure 2) have simply been connect ed, whilst, according to the invention, one cross-member at least, such as 10 for example, is secured interiorly of the side-frames 7, 8 at a point substantially opposite the picking stick 6.

It is of course important that the cross-member 10 be especially designed not only to connect the corresponding parts of the frame, but also to be capable of absorbing the higher axial stresses due to its new position in the rame.

A preferred embodiment of such a special cross-member has been represented as an example in Figures 4 to 8. In this embodiment, the cross-member 10 is represented as a relatively large angle bar, the horizontal flange 11 of which is connected to the vertical flange 12 by means of a broad fillet 13, and is bent downwardly so as to define with the lower part 14 of said vertical flange 12 a cavity 15. The latter is longitudinally divided in compartments by a series of walls 16 projecting from the outer face of the horizontal flange 11 and alternatively inclined in one direction and in the other so as to form triangles having a common side and extending practically on the whole length of said cross-member 10. This embodiment provides a cross-member which is at the same time relatively light in weight and which has a high moment of inertia in all directions.

The two ends of the cross-member are closed by the walls 17, 18 provided with bosses such as 19, 20, 21 (Figure 7) having an axial bore and acting as contact elements between said cross-member 10 and the side frames 7, 8. The cross-member is secured by means of bolts which go through said bosses and through the corresponding parts of the frames. In this manner there is obtained fixation means for said reinforcing cross-member, which are quite simple and of great stability. To also achieve great stability, said points of contact between the crossmember 10 and the side-frames 7, 8 have been disposed on a surface as large as possible, without increasing too much the transverse section of the cross-member. For that purpose, the end portions of the cross-member 10 adjacent the terminal walls 17, 18 have dimensions which are substantially greater than those of the cross-section of the cross-member, at its middle portion, the connection between said portions being effected by a progressive change of the transverse dimensions of the cross-member, from one portion to the others (Figure 4).

In the embodiment represented, the cross-member 10 serves also as a support of great stability for a certain number of driving elements of the loom. For that pur pose, the vertical flange 12 is manufactured with a series of brackets 22, 22' and 22" duly profiled according to the elements which are to be held.

It is evident thatthis cross-member, the main characteristic of which is to be placed opposite or approximately opposite the picking sticks, may have a shape different from the one described and illustrated. This cross-member is such that it presents a great moment of inertia along the lines of action of the main stresses and its transverse dimensions are relatively big so that it may be able to resist any adverse deflections and to provide the sideframes with such a support that distortion of said sideframes will be practically prevented.

While a preferred embodiment according to the invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A structural cross-member for weaving looms and the like having the cross-section of an angle bar made of two right-angle flanges, one flange being bent at its outer longitudinal edge portion and depending from an intermediate portion of the other flange so as to define a cavity with said other fiange, and walls separating said cavity and inclined alternatively in one direction and then in the other direction so as to form a triangulation.

2. A cross-member'as claimed in claim 1, wherein said other flange increases progressively in width towards the ends of said cross-member.

3. A cross-member as claimed in claim 2, further including end plates secured to the two ends of said crossmember and having bosses which form outward projections surrounding bolt holes.

4. A cross-member as claimed in claim 3, further including integral brackets disposed along the length of said cross-member for supporting various elements.

5. In a weaving loom provided with side frames and upper cross-members interconnecting the top parts of said side frames, bearings for the picking sticks and picking shafts of said loom mounted on said side frames near the lower edge thereof and between the front and back ends of said side frames, a reinforcing and strengthening lower cross-member extending between said side frames and connected thereto directly opposite said bearings so as to resist the stresses developed by the operation of said picking sticks and picking shafts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,701,230 Egli Feb. 5, 1929 2,499,050 Bahan Feb. 28, 1950 2,504,939 Tuten Apr. 18, 1950 2,618,295 Bahan Nov. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 354,884 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1931 482,371 Great Britain ....Mar. 28, 1938 

